After a 14-month vacancy, Walnutport Council last night filled the office of borough manager, a move triggering some protest and the removal of a member of the audience.

"You live in a community that is like communist Cuba," said Jack Roberts as he was escorted from Borough Hall by Walnutport Patrolman Joseph Pennisi.

Roberts, a Walnutport property owner who lives in Jim Thorpe, was removed from the meeting after repeatedly being told to take his seat by Robert Glasgow, Walnutport council president. Glasgow called for a vote to remove Roberts.

Roberts lost.

Visible at many borough, township and county municipal meetings, Roberts has earned a reputation for his relentless criticism of local governments. Last night, his target was Walnutport, and the borough's proposal to delegate the responsibilities of borough manager to its police chief, Russell Fye Jr.

Last year, questions over whether a borough with 2,000 residents needed a manager preceded the alleged break-in of the borough manager's office, the forced resignations of three council members, and criminal charges being brought against Walnutport Mayor Henry Kline.

Last night, Roberts stood up and attacked council's choice of Fye, saying the appointment had been made behind the backs of the taxpayers, that the resolution approving Fye was drawn up prior to a public meeting.

That, he charged, violated the state's so-called Sunshine Law, which governs the amount of access citizens have to local governments.

But as Roberts started his attack, his voice started to rise. Roberts and Glasgow exchanged words and the discussion deteriorated into a shouting match. Glasgow called for a vote to remove Roberts. The measure passed and Pennisi escorted Roberts from Borough Hall.

Did he offer any resistance?

"I said go and he went," Pennisi said.

After his removal, council voted 4-2 to re-create the position of borough manager and to fill it with Fye.

"I feel as though I was denied my Constitutional liberties and my right to a free speech," Roberts later said. "I didn't do anything wrong."

Grace M. Williams, director of the Taxpayer's League of Walnutport, criticized the removal of Roberts, saying citizens had a right to speak, even though "you may not agree with what they have to say." Williams happened to agree with what Roberts had to say.

Williams attacked Council for its choice of Fye and they way they chose him. She also criticized council for allocating $150,000 to the police department while other area departments that are protecting fewer people spend fewer dollars.

"This shouldn't be so controversial," Glasgow said after the meeting. "We're talking about $16 per week."

Under the proposal, Fye would work as borough manager on a part-time basis, supervising some borough employees, outlining some of their duties, and advising council on the latest changes in federal, state and county laws. Fye would also scour the ordinance code for inaccuracies and inconsistencies, while expanding the code to include new ordinances.

Fye, according to the resolution adopted last night, would receive an extra $16.80 per week over his current yearly salary of $22,058, representing a 4-percent raise. After July 1, Fye's pay would go to $33.60 per week, an 8- percent raise.

"We consider that to be a minimum charge to the taxpayers," Glasgow said.